Overcoming Breast Cancer

As a mammographer of 25 years, Tracie*strongly believes in having an annual mammogram to detect the early signs of breast cancer. All of those years of experience caused her to prepare for the worst, in case it ever happened to her. And in July of 2011, her worst case scenario did happen.

* Her real name is used with permission.

Getting the News

During her yearly mammogram, some calcifications were noted on the films. Her doctor wanted to monitor them and retest six months later. At that appointment, the calcifications had increased in number and looked different. After her biopsy, Tracie’s doctor delivered the dreaded news: “You have breast cancer. It is called ductal carcinoma in situ. You know this is the really good kind to have because it means all of the cancer is contained within the ducts.”

Tracie’s husband, Sam, held her and said, “We’ll get through this. I will love you no matter what.” Initially, she felt numb and thought about all the what ifs. She worried about telling her grown children, but they handled the news well. Overcoming breast cancer was her new determined purpose.

Plan of Attack

It took over a month to have the required MRIs and blood work, as well as the right doctors in place. The MRI revealed the cancer had an invasive component, which meant it might have broken out of the ducts and moved into the blood steam and lymph nodes. Her radiologist said, ” The mastectomy should increase your chances for remission.”

A week or so before her surgery, Tracie and Sam were at a motorcycle race. A 70 year old woman approached Tracie and shared she had heard about her diagnosis and upcoming surgery. She told Tracie her story of overcoming breast cancer, then pulled up her shirt and said, “This is how you are going to look!”  As unexpected as it was, this woman’s boldness and spontaneity caused Tracie some much needed laughter and encouraged her.

The song “Blessings” by Laura Story came on the radio as they were pulling in to the hospital for her surgery. It gave Tracie hope.

 

Tracie underwent bilateral mastectomies with free trans flap reconstruction. During her six day recovery at the hospital, she asked her doctor about spots on her lymph nodes that she had noticed on her X-rays just prior to going into surgery. He said, “No. No. Everything looks good.”

With his definitive words in mind, Tracie believed her cancer was completely gone, and her life could go back to normal.

It’s Not Over Yet

At the one month post surgery follow-up appointment, the doctor discovered she had an infection at one of her incisions. Unbeknownst to her, the pathologist also had concerns about the spots near her lymph nodes (that Tracie had spotted) and had her films sent to John Hopkins Hospital and MD Anderson for analysis. Her breast cancer doctor delivered another diagnosis: “You have 2 Neu positive breast cancer. It’s a very aggressive type. It’s in your sentinel lymph node. You need to start chemotherapy treatment immediately.” Her overcomer attitude was evident even after the second diagnosis of breast cancer!

In November of 2011, Tracie began what would be eighteen chemo treatments. She began losing her hair almost immediately, so she and her family had a ceremony to shave off her remaining hair. Her husband, one of her two sons, and her son-in-law showed their support by shaving their heads, too.

The chemo treatments brought on all kinds of stomach issues where she was only able to eat limited foods that settled well. Feeling very tired all the time and grumpiness were other annoying side effects of the chemo.

In February of 2012, Tracie made the decision to go back to work as she wanted to regain her normal life.

 Overcoming Breast Cancer

Tracie and Sam took a strenuous walk up a nearby hiking trail after one of her chemo treatments. During the walk, she shared with her husband  that she wanted to do a half-marathon. He looked at her funny, but said, “Ok. If you want to do it, I’ll help you train.”

Two weeks after her declaration, she received a postcard in the mail about Team DetermiNation with the American Cancer Society. They were promoting the Rock N Roll Series Half Marathon and Marathon in Savannah, Georgia. She and Sam began training six days a week. “I felt good all the time, because I knew exercising decreases the recurrence of cancer by fifty percent.”

On Mother’s Day of 2012, Tracie completed the Race for the Cure run as part of her training. Her husband, children and son-in-law came to show their unwavering support.

After nineteen weeks of training, Tracie put on her team DetermiNation race t-shirt, her survivor pin, and walked/ran her first half-marathon! A nine year old boy stopped her during the race and said, “My mom died of breast cancer. Will you carry this balloon for her?” Honored by his request, Tracie proudly carried his balloon to the finish line.

She is currently training to participate in her second half-marathon, which she will walk/run in Raleigh, NC in April of 2014.

Preventing Breast Cancer

As a mammographer and as a breast cancer survivor, Tracie strongly believes in the importance of yearly mammograms. “Every woman should have her first mammogram by the age of thirty five and every year after the age of forty. Detecting it early will increase the possibilities of successful treatment and remission. You can overcome breast cancer!”

Speak your mind: For years, women have been inundated with messages about the importance of doing a monthly self check and having a yearly mammogram. If you heed these words of wisdom, why? If you don’t, why not?